Laboratory Instruments

At the BU GSDM dental biomaterials laboratory, over 140 shared instruments/tools are available for education and research. The instruments cover a wide range of applications in dental materials research including tissue culture, specimen section and polishing, chemical processing, polymer synthesis, ceramic processing, computerized dentistry, dental material processing, color testing, solution testing, surface analysis, imaging, elemental analysis, mechanical testing, and others. Laboratory facilities located at R5 and X2 are open for residents and faculty. The instruments are well-maintained and ready for use but proper training is required for access those instruments.

Instrument Overview

Category I: Materials Synthesis and Manufacture

Instruments used for simple chemical synthesis, ceramic sintering, heat treatment, press, monomer infiltration and polymerization.

  1. Wet chemistry: Glassware, vacuum desiccator, magnetic stirrer, hotplate, pH meter/ion analyzer, glassware, filter, refrigerator, microwave, thermal couple meter, thermometer, vacuum gauge, UV light source, desiccator, vacuum desiccator.
  2. Furnaces: 5× Dental ceramic vacuum furnace (up to 1200oC), 2× Thermolyne tube furnace (800-1700oC), 4× Vulcan box furnace (50-1100 oC), 2× Vita Zirconia furnace (1300- 1600oC), 2 Thermolyne regular furnace (100-1093 oC, one in X building), Zircar (500-1600oC)
  3. Ovens: Incubator (37oC), General oven (RT-160oC), burn out oven (200-500oC), 2× VWR vacuum oven.
  4. Isopress: 1x 50 ton, and 2x 12 ton hydraulic press units
  5. Resin infiltration: 0.4 Torr vacuum, ~200 mL infiltration volume
  6. Light curing unit: UV light curing, Blue light curing unit, pressurized curing pot

Category II: Materials Processing

Instruments used to process raw materials for research use via physical processes.

  1. Polishing machine: Buehler EcoMet 250/AutoMet 250; RedWing; Model trimmer
  2. Wear machine: motor driven 2- and 3-body brushing wear tester
  3. Fatigue machine: pneumatically driven, 8 single unit medium (x7.86), 2 large five unit assembly (x 21.84), 2 medium five unit assembly (×7.86) and 2 X-small five unit assembly (× 1.364).
  4. Sectioning machine: Buehler Isomet 5000 linear precision saw, 11-180 low speed saw, with diamond blade.
  5. Sonicator: 4x Ultrasonicator bath, 2x Ultrasonicator probe processor
  6. Bur cutting tester: home made by Pober.
  7. Dental material processer: Light curing unit, 8x, hand piece station, Allure Bleach light station, Oral plasma generator, denture pressurized curing oven
  8. CAD/CAM: Object scanner (Eos, Eos Blue, Omni, Blue light, Lava Chairside Oral scanner), Milling machine (Sorina inLab MC XL, inLab MC, CEREC MC XL, inLab, CEREC 3)
  9. Separation: bench-top centrifuge
  10. Mixer: motor mixer, Rotary mixer
  11. Thermocycling machine: lab-made
  12. Sandblaster machine: PrepStar, Renfer Basic sand blaster
  13. Ball milling machine: Jar miller

Category III: Physical properties analysis

Instruments used to test physical properties of materials and output data.

  1. Microstructure imaging: Field emission electron microscope (FESEM) with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Optical microscope including stereomicroscope, metallurgical polarized microscope, phase contrast microscope (at X lab), bright field microscope.
  2. Mechanical tester: Universal Mechanical Testing Machine, Microhardness tester
  3. Color testing: Colorimeter, i5 Spectrophotometer, Digital shade guide (Vita Easyshade, Vita Easyshade Compact), Viewing booth, Gloss meter.
  4. Spectrometer: FTIR spectrometer, i5 spectrophotometer.
  5. Weight measurement: Balance, Scale.
  6. Dimension measurement: Micrometer, Caliper, Profilometer.
  7. Other physical properties tester: Radiometer, tachometer, multimeter (Volt-Ohm meter), digital camera.

Category IV: Tissue culture instruments

Instruments used to perform cell culture, cell biology and molecular biology assay.

  1. Cell culture essential equipment: Class IIA/B3 biological safety cabinet, autoclave, CO2 controlled incubator, liquid nitrogen dewer, water bath, -80° C freezer, -20° C freezer, 4° C refrigerator, tissue culture centrifuge, electronic cell counter.
  2. Bio Lab instrument: Water ultra-purification system, high speed centrifuge, low speed shaker, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, UV transilluminator, balance, pH meter, and stirrer.
  3. Microscopes: Tissue culture inverted microscope, reflected-light differential interference contrast microscope, bright light microscope.
  4. Molecular biology: Electrophoretic gel system, Bio-Rad power supply, electrophorectic systems, pressure blotter, slot-blot apparatus, PCR machine.

Category V: Machining Tools

Instruments used to cut, trim, or drill hard materials into desired geometry. Please note most machinery requires special training and students are not allowed to operate for safety reasons.

  1. Computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine, Compact 5 (EMCO Maier, Austria)
  2. Unimat lathe (EMCO Maier, Austria)
  3. Drill press, milling machine, band saw, biopsy saw, air abrasion units, casting machines,
  4. Gypsum trimmers, disc saw cutter.
  5. Soldering machine: Soldering station, Thermal couple welder.

Specifications of major testing instruments

Name/Model: Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) Hitachi SU6600
Energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) system with a silicon-drift detector (SDD) (Aztec 50)
Manufacturer: Hitachi High Tech, Japan, and Oxford Instrument, UK

Resolution check report:[4/21/2015] 6.8nm at 10kV [5/13/2015] 4.6nm at 15kV, [5/21/2016] 4.3 nm @20kV

Name/Model: Universal Testing Machine Instron 5566A

Manufacturer: Instron, Norwood, MA

Electromechanical load frames are designed to apply a load to a test specimen via the moving crosshead.
Software version: Bluehill 3,0
Tension, Compression, Tension Creep Relaxation, Compression Creep Relaxation, Tension Profile, Compression Profile, Peel/Tear/Friction, Flexure, Metals (Yield), Flexure Creep Relaxation

Name: Sputter coater Model: Technics Hummer V
Manufacturer: Anatech Ltd, Springfield, VA (now it is Anatech USA, SPARKS, NV)

Sputter coating Au. Au/Pd (75/25)

Name: Pneumatic Cyclic Loading machine (Fatigue machine) Model: CF5M and CF5S
Manufacturer: Pober Industries Co., Waban, MA

Pneumatically driven, 8 single unit medium (×7.86), 2 large five unit assembly (× 21.84), 2 medium five unit assembly (×7.86) and 2 X-small five unit assembly (× 1.364).
Cyclic frequency: 1Hz
Loading capacity: 40-2000N

Name/Model: Gloss meter, Novo-curve
Manufacturer: Rhopoint Instruments, UK

Gloss is measured by shining a known amount of light at a surface and quantifying the reflectance. The angle of the light and the method by which the reflectance is measured are determined by the surface.
Novo-Curve is designed to measure gloss index for curved surface like teeth, pens, spoons, bottles, jewelry, etc. It follows the standard of ASTM D 523 / D 2457. It may be applied to study dental materials, such as surface polishability of composite, porcelain glazing, light reflectance and etc.
Measurement Angle: 60°, Range: 0 - 1000 GU

Name/Model: Polishing Machine, Ecomet 250/Automet 250
Manufacturer: Buehler Ltd, Lake Bluff IL

Materials surface polishing.
Manual or automatic polishing Force 1-10 lbs [5-45N].

Name/Model: Blade cutting machine, IsoMet 5000 Linear Precision Saw
Manufacturer: Buehler Ltd, Lake Bluff IL

Automatic section materials, plastic, resin, ceramic block, metal, tooth, etc.

Name/Model: Blade cutting machine, IsoMet High Speed Pro Precision Saw
Manufacturer: Buehler Ltd, Lake Bluff IL

Automatic section materials, plastic, resin, ceramic block, metal, tooth, etc.


Name/Model: Microhardness Tester, Wilson VH 1202
Manufacturer: Buehler Ltd, Lake Bluff IL

Knoop and Vickers hardness testing.
Indentation fracture toughness.
Twoe indenter turret.
Two optical lenses: 40x, 10x.
Digital Zoom: Load: 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, 1000, 2000 g


Name/Model: High-temperature sintering furnace, Zircar Hotspot 110
Manufacturer: Zicar Zirconia Inc.

programmable atmospheric high-temperature sintering furnace.
High-heat firing chamber (maximium:1600oC)
Four Molybdenum Disilicide Heating Elements
Programmable controller. Hold two programs of up to 8 segments. Cleaning firing: Ramp to 1350 in 1 hour, Ramp to 1600 in 1 hour, Soak at 1600 for 1 hour, End


Name/Model: High-temperature sintering furnace, VITA® Zyrcomat T
Manufacturer: Vita Vident

A programmable atmospheric high-temperature sintering furnace.
High-heat firing chamber (rated 1600oC)
5 molybdenum elements for uniform heat distribution
Processing capabilities of 75 + plus/single/mixed unit restorations (Stacked)
Duration of the program cycle including cooling down to 400 °C for standard zirconia sintering: approx. 5 h.


Name/Model: High-temperature sintering furnace, VITA® Zyrcomat
Manufacturer: Vita Vident

Atmospheric high-temperature sintering furnace with default program for sintering firing VITA In-Ceram® YZ CUBES for CEREC® .
Molybdenum disilicide elements for uniform heat distribution
230V, 1500W
Processing capabilities of 75 + plus/single/mixed unit restorations (Stacked)
Duration of the program cycle including cooling down to 200 °C for standard zirconia sintering: approx. 7.5 h.


Vulcan Furnace

Name/Model: Vulcan Furnaces, 3-1750, 3-550, 3-130
Manufacturer: Neytech

50-1100 oC, burnout furnace, Three segments setting wihtout auto off.
Application: burnout, not recommended to use under 300oC

Note: Setting parameters of zero in ramp or temperature will neutralize that segment.

Programat CS Furnace

Name/Model: Programat CS Dental Furnace
Manufacturer: Ivoclar vivadent

max. 1200 oC, vacuum furnace, Two segments settings
Application: procelain sintering, e.max CAD crystallization, glazing.

Note: 1. Setting of one segment and two segment are easily messed. Make sure which one you choose in the control profile.
2. Firing to many specimens may cuase underfire and the damage on specimens cannot be fixed.

Youtube Guide 1 HOW TO USE

Name/Model: X-Rite Ci7600 Benchtop Spectrophotometer
Manufacturer: X-Rite

Computer controlled by software through USB interface. Wavenumber range 750 -360 nm, interval 10 nm. Spectrum capability. Apertures selection: Small, Medium and Large size. Illumination: Xenon flash light source, CIE D65 calibrated.
Reflection mode and transmission mode. Export measurement data as MS Excel.
Application: Color measurement (L*a*b*);
Contrast ratio (CR); Color difference (DE*);
Transparent parameter (TP)

Name/Model: Four Decimal Analytical Balance
Manufacturer: METTLER TOLEDO, Columbus, OH

Weighs to 4 decimal in grams. Accuracy 0.1 mg. 204 gram capacity, 10 milligram minimum. Automatic calibration
Application: Weight measurement. Indirect mesurement of volume and density.

Name/Model: Profilometer/ SJ-201
Manufacturer: Mitutoyo, Japan

Measuring force: 0.75mN, Stylus profile: Tip radius: 5μm
Meaure parameter Ra, Rq, Ry, Rz, Rk, Rt, Rp, R3z, S, Sm, Pc, mr (c), Rpk, Rvk, Mr1, Mr2, A1, A2, Vo
Cutoff: .01, .03, .1 inch (0.25, 0.8, 2.5mm)
Z range: (-200μm to +150μm)
Application: Surface roughness measurement.

Name/Model: Thermocycling test apparatus
Manufacturer: Sabri Dental Enterprises Inc., Downers Grove, IL

Hot bath, chiller circulator, cold bath, timer controller
Application: Material thermocycling challenge. Normal setting cold bath 5C, hot bath 55C.
Note:>Limit thermal capacity. Do not load large amount of specimens.

Name/Model: Curing light unit/Bluephase 20i
Manufacturer: Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein

Turbo 2000 mW/cm2, High 1200mW/cm2, low 650mW/cm2
385-515 cm-1
Application: Photo polymerization initiattion.

Name/Model: Bladeless Rotory Mixer/Speedmixer DAC 150.1 FVZ-K
Manufacturer: FlackTek Inc, Landrum, SC

Vacuum chamber. 0-100g mixing capacity.
Max Speed 3500 rpm.
Application: Mixing fluid/powder, powder/powder, fluid/fluid. Grinding powder.

Name/Model: IR thermal cam/ 226
Manufacturer: Fotric, Dallas TX

28x21 lens, 384x288 resolution, video and photo recording
Application: Thermal image.

Name/Model: 3D Bioprinter
Manufacturer: Allevi 2

2 channel bioprinter
Application: Rapid prototyping. Construct 3D Biomaterial Construct.

Name/Model: 3D Printer
Manufacturer: Asiga MAX UV385

DLP printer
Application: UV photocuring resin 3D printing.

Name/Model: 3D Printer
Manufacturer: SprintRay Pro 95S

DLP printer
Application: UV photocuring resin 3D printing.

Name/Model: UV photocuring unit Ottoflash G171
Manufacturer: NK-Optik GmbH

UV photocuring unit
Application: UV flashing photocuring unit with or without nitrogen.

Name/Model: 3D Digital Microscope/VHX7000N
Manufacturer: Keyence Co. Application: Optical Imaging. max x500